This disclosure relates to use of WLAN virtual interfaces. According to one embodiment, a wireless device may be capable of using a WLAN chipset for user initiated WLAN communication and for cellular offloading WLAN communication. A separate WLAN virtual interface may be established for each type of WLAN communication, including a first WLAN virtual interface between the WLAN chipset and a WLAN connectivity manager executing on an application processor of the wireless device and a second WLAN virtual interface between the WLAN chipset and a cellular connectivity manager executing on the application processor. The virtual interfaces may each use a different IP address, and may either multiplex data onto a shared RF chain in a time-sharing manner or each be provided with their own RF chain to perform WLAN communication.
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1. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising: a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio; a cellular radio; and an application processor operably coupled to the WLAN radio and the cellular radio; wherein the UE is configured to: establish a first WLAN virtual interface between the WLAN radio and the application processor of the wireless device, wherein the first WLAN virtual interface provides an interface between the WLAN radio and a WLAN connectivity manager executing on the application processor; establish a second WLAN virtual interface between the WLAN radio and the application processor, wherein the second WLAN virtual interface provides an interface between the WLAN radio and a cellular connectivity manager executing on the application processor; perform, by the WLAN radio, WLAN communication with a first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface, wherein the first WLAN virtual interface utilizes a first IP address to perform the WLAN communication with the first access point; and perform, by the WLAN radio, cellular-WLAN interworking communication with a second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface, wherein the second WLAN virtual interface utilizes a second IP address to perform the cellular-WLAN interworking communication with the second access point, wherein the second IP address is also used by the wireless device to perform cellular communication.
A wireless device (like a phone) has a Wi-Fi radio, a cellular radio, and a processor. The device creates two virtual Wi-Fi connections. The first connects the Wi-Fi radio to a Wi-Fi manager on the processor for regular Wi-Fi. The second connects the Wi-Fi radio to a cellular manager on the processor for cellular data offloading to Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi radio uses the first virtual connection with a unique IP address to connect to a standard Wi-Fi access point. It uses the second virtual connection with another unique IP address (also used for cellular) to connect to a Wi-Fi access point for cellular data offloading.
2. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the WLAN radio comprises a plurality of radio frequency (RF) chains, wherein the WLAN communication with the first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface is performed using a first RF chain of the plurality of RF chains, wherein the cellular-WLAN interworking communication with the second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface is performed using a second RF chain of the plurality of RF chains, wherein the WLAN communication with the first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface and the cellular-WLAN interworking communication with the second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface are performed simultaneously.
The wireless device described previously uses multiple Wi-Fi radio chains. The first Wi-Fi connection (for regular Wi-Fi) uses one radio chain to connect to a standard Wi-Fi access point. The second Wi-Fi connection (for cellular data offloading) uses a separate radio chain to connect to a Wi-Fi access point. Both Wi-Fi connections operate simultaneously using their dedicated radio chains. Therefore, regular Wi-Fi communication and cellular-Wi-Fi interworking communication happen concurrently through different RF chains.
3. The UE of claim 2 , wherein the UE is further configured to: disable the first WLAN virtual interface or the second WLAN virtual interface if it is not currently being used by the UE; and power down an unused RF chain based on disabling the first WLAN virtual interface or the second WLAN virtual interface.
The wireless device described two claims before can disable either of the virtual Wi-Fi connections (regular Wi-Fi or cellular offloading) if they are not being used. If a virtual Wi-Fi connection is disabled, the radio chain that was being used by that connection is powered down to save energy. This means that if the device isn't using regular Wi-Fi or cellular offloading, it can turn off the corresponding radio chain to conserve power.
4. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the WLAN communication with the first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface and the cellular-WLAN interworking communication with the second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface are performed using a shared RF chain in a time-sharing manner if both the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface are active at a given time.
Instead of using separate radio chains, the wireless device described three claims before can perform both regular Wi-Fi and cellular data offloading using a single, shared radio chain. If both Wi-Fi connections are active at the same time, the device uses a time-sharing approach, switching between the two connections rapidly. This means the single radio chain is allocated in time slots to serve different WLAN virtual interfaces in turn.
5. The UE of claim 4 , wherein the UE is further configured to: disable the first WLAN virtual interface if it is no longer being used to perform WLAN communication with the first access point; disable the second WLAN virtual interface if it is no longer being used to perform WLAN communication with the second access point; disable time-sharing and allow full-time use of the shared RF chain when only one of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface is active at a given time.
Building on the time-sharing approach from the previous claim, the wireless device described four claims before can disable the regular Wi-Fi connection if it's not being used for standard Wi-Fi. It can also disable the cellular offloading connection if it's not offloading cellular data. When only one of the connections is active, the device stops time-sharing and allows that connection to have exclusive, full-time use of the shared radio chain to avoid unnecessary power consumption from switching.
6. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the cellular connectivity manager is a 3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) connectivity manager, wherein the second access point is a 3GPP network operator access point configured for cellular-WLAN interworking and offloading.
In the original wireless device, the cellular manager is a 3GPP (cell standard) manager. The Wi-Fi access point used for cellular offloading is a 3GPP network operator access point specifically configured to support cellular-Wi-Fi interworking and data offloading. Therefore, the cellular offloading feature relies on a cellular-specific standard and network infrastructure.
7. A method comprising: by a wireless device: enabling a first wireless local area network (WLAN) virtual interface between a WLAN chipset and a first wireless connectivity manager executing on an application processor of the wireless device in response to a connectivity request by the first wireless connectivity manager; performing, by the WLAN chipset, WLAN communication with a first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface; enabling a second WLAN virtual interface between the WLAN chipset and a second wireless connectivity manager executing on the application processor of the wireless device in response to a connectivity request by the second wireless connectivity manager; performing, by the WLAN chipset, WLAN communication with a second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface.
A wireless device enables a first virtual Wi-Fi connection between its Wi-Fi chipset and a Wi-Fi manager on the processor when the Wi-Fi manager requests a connection. The Wi-Fi chipset then uses this connection to communicate with a standard Wi-Fi access point. Similarly, the device enables a second virtual Wi-Fi connection between the Wi-Fi chipset and a cellular manager on the processor when the cellular manager requests a connection. The Wi-Fi chipset uses this second connection to communicate with a different Wi-Fi access point.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first wireless connectivity manager is a WLAN connectivity manager configured to manage default WLAN communication, wherein the second wireless connectivity manager is a cellular connectivity manager configured to manage cellular communication and cellular-WLAN interworking communication.
In the method above, the first wireless connectivity manager is a WLAN connectivity manager for default WLAN communication, and the second wireless connectivity manager is a cellular connectivity manager that handles cellular communication and cellular-WLAN interworking communication. So, it distinguishes between standard Wi-Fi usage and Wi-Fi usage specifically for assisting cellular data transfer.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first WLAN virtual interface has a first IP address, wherein the second WLAN virtual interface has a second IP address.
The method described two claims before assigns different IP addresses to the two virtual Wi-Fi connections. The first virtual Wi-Fi connection (for regular Wi-Fi) has one IP address, and the second virtual Wi-Fi connection (for cellular offloading) has a different IP address.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second IP address is also used by the wireless device to perform cellular communication.
In the method described in the previous claim, the second IP address that is used for the cellular offloading Wi-Fi connection is *also* used by the wireless device for its regular cellular communication. Therefore, this address is likely tied to the cellular carrier's network, and used for both cellular and cellular offloading traffic.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the WLAN chipset comprises a plurality of radio frequency (RF) chains, wherein the WLAN communication with the first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface and the WLAN communication with the second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface are performed simultaneously using different RF chains of the plurality of RF chains.
In the method from four claims before, the Wi-Fi chipset has multiple radio chains. The regular Wi-Fi connection and the cellular offloading connection communicate with their respective access points simultaneously using different radio chains. The implication is that each virtual interface (one for regular Wi-Fi, and one for cellular offloading) is assigned to and communicates using its own dedicated RF chain.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the WLAN communication with the first access point via the first WLAN virtual interface and the WLAN communication with the second access point via the second WLAN virtual interface are performed using a shared RF chain in a time-sharing manner.
In contrast to the previous claim, the method from five claims before allows the Wi-Fi communications with different access points via different virtual interfaces to be performed using a shared RF chain in a time-sharing manner. This means only one physical radio is being used, and it is switched rapidly between the two virtual interfaces.
13. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions which, when executed at a wireless user equipment (UE) device, cause the UE device to: receive user input triggering a wireless local area network (WLAN connection to a non-3 rd Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) WLAN access point; enable a first WLAN virtual interface in response to the user input; receive a 3GPP-WLAN offload request; enable a second WLAN virtual interface in response to the 3GPP-WLAN offload request.
A computer-readable memory stores instructions that, when run on a wireless device (like a phone), make the device do the following: When the user tries to connect to a normal (non-3GPP) Wi-Fi network, the device creates a first virtual Wi-Fi connection. When the device receives a request to offload cellular data to Wi-Fi via the 3GPP standard, it creates a second virtual Wi-Fi connection. The device uses these virtual connections to handle different types of Wi-Fi traffic.
14. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein when executed, the program instructions further cause the UE to: perform WLAN communication with the non-3GPP WLAN access point via the first WLAN virtual interface; perform WLAN communication with a 3GPP WLAN access point via the second WLAN virtual interface.
The memory medium described previously further contains instructions for: The device communicates with the regular (non-3GPP) Wi-Fi access point using the first virtual Wi-Fi connection. The device communicates with a 3GPP Wi-Fi access point (one designed for cellular offloading) using the second virtual Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, the virtual interfaces are mapped to communication via different APs.
15. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein a single radio frequency (RF) chain of the UE is available to a WLAN chipset of the UE, wherein if only one of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface is active at a given time, the active WLAN virtual interface has exclusive use of the RF chain, wherein if both of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface are active at a given time, the RF chain is time-shared between the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface according to a time-sharing algorithm.
In the memory medium from two claims back, assume the Wi-Fi chipset only has *one* radio chain available. If only *one* of the virtual Wi-Fi connections is active, it gets exclusive use of that radio chain. However, if *both* virtual Wi-Fi connections are active, the single radio chain is shared between them using a time-sharing algorithm. This means it switches rapidly between the two connections.
16. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein a first RF chain and a second RF chain of the UE are available to a WLAN chipset of the UE, wherein if only one of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface is active at a given time, the active WLAN virtual interface uses the first RF chain, wherein if both of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface are active at a given time, each of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface use one of the first RF chain and the second RF chain.
The memory medium from three claims back has an alternative configuration: two radio chains are available. If only *one* virtual Wi-Fi connection is active, it uses the *first* radio chain. If *both* connections are active, *each* connection uses *one* of the available radio chains simultaneously. This configuration gives simultaneous Wi-Fi and offloading capabilities compared to the single radio chain time-sharing approach.
17. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein multiple bidirectional multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antennas of the UE are available to a WLAN chipset of the UE, wherein if only one of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface is active at a given time, the active WLAN virtual interface uses the multiple bidirectional MIMO antennas, wherein if both of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface are active at a given time, each of the first WLAN virtual interface and the second WLAN virtual interface use some of available MIMO antennas.
The memory medium of four claims back uses multiple bidirectional MIMO antennas with its Wi-Fi chipset. When only one of the two Wi-Fi connections is active, that interface utilizes all available antennas. When both the standard WLAN and the cellular offload WLAN connections are active, then available MIMO antennas are shared between them.
18. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein the first WLAN virtual interface provides an internet protocol connection (IPC) interface between a WLAN chipset of the UE and a WLAN connectivity manager module executing on an application processor of the UE, wherein the second WLAN virtual interface provides an IPC interface between the WLAN chipset of the UE and a 3GPP connectivity manager module executing on the application processor of the UE.
The memory medium of five claims back defines that the first virtual WLAN interface is an internet protocol connection (IPC) interface for WLAN chipset and WLAN connectivity manager interaction. Also, the second virtual WLAN interface provides an IPC interface between the WLAN chipset and a 3GPP connectivity manager module that is running on the application processor.
19. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein the 3GPP-WLAN offload request is received by the UE from a 3GPP network.
The memory medium described six claims back specifies that the 3GPP-WLAN offload request, which triggers the use of the second virtual WLAN interface, is received by the UE from the 3GPP cellular network. This means the network tells the phone to start offloading traffic to Wi-Fi.
20. The memory medium of claim 13 , wherein the 3GPP-WLAN offload request is internally generated by the UE by a 3GPP radio resource control (RRC) module or access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) module.
Alternatively, the memory medium described seven claims prior indicates that the 3GPP-WLAN offload request is generated internally by the UE by a 3GPP radio resource control (RRC) module or an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) module. Thus, this describes a mode of cellular offload where the UE makes the decision to offload, rather than the network dictating it.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 25, 2014
May 9, 2017
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